WWE Live, Arena Birmingham - review
It was a night of returns for some legends of wrestling as Arena Birmingham hosted WWE Live.
The stars of WWE’s Smackdown Live brand were in the Second City to show off their athletic talents, with former champions Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan back in a Birmingham ring for the first time in years.
Hardy and Mysterio got two of the biggest reactions of the night as they teamed up in victory over Randy Orton and United States champion Shinsuke Nakamura, with Mysterio in particular looking like his old self.
Just weeks after returning to WWE, the masked luchador displayed his variety of high-flying talents, finishing with a spectacular splash from the top rope.
Bryan’s return to Birmingham - in his bout with The Miz - was an emotional one for the fans, who just a few short months ago thought they would never see their hero wrestle again.
Bryan retired through injury in 2016, but was cleared to compete again earlier this year, so it was a special moment to see him back in the ring.
A double championship main event capped the night off with AJ Styles overcoming long-term rival Samoa Joe - headlining his third consecutive Birmingham show - after the latter inadvertently sent himself crashing through a table.
It was a toss up between that bout and the Smackdown Women’s Championship clash for match of the night, the incredibly popular ‘Irish Lass Kicker’ Becky Lynch defeating wrestling royalty Charlotte Flair, the daughter of 16-time world champion Ric Flair.
Wolverhampton’s Trent Seven added his stinging chops to the mix in a British tag team showcase, while there were also other excellent tag team matches, including the opening title match between The Bar and The New Day.
Another night packed with hard-hitting action and some of the biggest stars in the game was certainly one for the fans, who are already anticipating what next year’s tours will bring.
